Kind Space Ottawa has partnered with the Odawa Native Friendship Centre to provide a new LGBTTQ+-friendly workout space. Anna Carroll, Centretown NewsA body-positive and LGBTTQ+-friendly fitness space called Manajiwin opened in Centretown during Pride Week in August. The program is a partnership between Kind Space Ottawa and the Odawa Native Friendship Centre.
Manajiwin, which means “respect” in Ojibway, runs at Odawa’s gym space in the City Centre complex off Albert Street every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The program was initiated by Kind Space vice-president RJ Jones. Jones said the idea came from a discussion with Kind Space director Saph Parchement about the need for more inclusive fitness spaces for the LGBTTQ+ community in Ottawa.
“I know working out has been such a positive thing for so many of my friends,” Jones said. According to Jones — who prefers the pronoun they rather than he or she — being in a positive community environment can help avoid issues of depression, addiction, and isolation that LGBTTQ+ people often experience.
Jones, who is Saulteaux-Cree, said they hope use of the gym at Odawa will help build a better relationship between the indigenous and LGBTTQ+ communities: “There’s not a lot of dialogue in the indigenous community where we talk about (LGBTTQ+) issues … especially trans-ness.”
A visible space that is both indigenous and LGBTTQ+ friendly is important, according to Jones.
“So many of my identities are intersecting. I’m queer but I’m also indigenous,” they said. “For me really it’s just kind of building that intersection between both communities.”
Jones said they hope Manajiwin can help others feel included.
Carling Miller is the executive director of Kind Space and has volunteered at Manajiwin consistently since its opening.
“It’s been great,” Miller said. “I generally really hate gyms … not necessarily the people that go there, but just sort of the attitude that a lot of people have.”
Miller said at Manajiwin she feels like she has more freedom to do what she wants without being judged.
“It just feels different,” she said.
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney said in an email she has worked on various City of Ottawa projects focusing on inclusion of gender diverse individuals, including several in the recreation sector. This includes programs such as the Trans-Youth Swim at Jack Purcell Community Centre.
“It’s early days and there remain so many ways in which we can improve,” McKenney said. “There is a need for both specific gender inclusive programming and spaces, but there is also a need for institutions and the City … to determine how we can become safer and more gender inclusive.”
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Ottawa-based organizations such as the Ten Oaks Project and Family Services Ottawa develop community programs to help support gender diverse people and their families. Hannah McGechie, Ten Oaks executive director, said Manajiwin will help LGBTTQ people exercise in peace.
“Trans and gender creative folks are often made to feel very unwelcome and uncomfortable in recreation settings,” McGechie said in an email. “The gender binary is enforced, they experience suspicion and violence in change rooms and washrooms, and their gender expression is questioned and critiqued.”
Laurie Rektor, director of community programs for Family Services Ottawa, said her organization believes these initiatives should be temporary measures. “We’re striving for a place where full gyms are welcoming of everybody,” Rektor said. “We see this as a step-away and not a permanent solution.”
Rektor also mentioned how gender-diverse children are marginalized in school, particularly in physical education. The French public school board in Ottawa recently opened a new gender-neutral washroom at a high school in Lowertown, and announced plans to open more gender-neutral washrooms across the district.
Jones said ideally they would like to see Manajiwin become more than a drop-in centre, and envisions a full-time LGBTTQ-friendly gym in Centretown. “I know it’s definitely needed,” Jones said. “It’s more about ensuring people’s comfort at the end of the day.”